AMHERST – Yasmina Mattison Sudan first became aware of her race when she was in kindergarten and another child told her she couldn't play with the Legos because her skin was dirty.

Mattison Sudan, whose is from a multiracial family, was the only child of color in her Shutesbury Elementary School classroom.

The 18-year Amherst Regional High School senior was sharing her thoughts about race with three high school juniors who are working on a documentary about race that they hope will inspire an honest discussion in the fall.

Racial issues have been prominent this year at the school and have rallied the community following graffiti targeting African American math teacher Carolyn Gardner. But the students say they were talking about it even before that.

"This has been going on for a long time," said Sajo Jefferson, one of the three filmmakers. Jefferson who is African American, said, "It's more systemic."

Sam Simonds, who is white, said the idea for the film was inspired by talks he had with Jefferson. "As a white male, I didn't see it as a privilege," he said. And as they were talking, he said, "I was getting defensive."

Sajo Jefferson, left, Sam Simonds, center, and Lucas Cox check settings from a filming segment they have just completed. The three Amherst Regional High School juniors are working on a documentary about race.Diane Lederman/The Republican

Those discussions in part were stirred by presentations by Calvin Terrell, founder and lead facilitator of Social Centric that provides education and training to enhance human interactions. He was at the school this fall and again in January.

The pair along with Lucas Cox had been thinking about making a film about Haiti but with the issue of race in the forefront decided to refocus their attention.

The three are doing this without the help of the school and are using camera equipment from Amherst media.

The plan is to interview about 40 and then edit over the summer. They don't yet know what the story is. They have no preconceived notions and are looking for honesty "to provide an understanding of other people's perspectives," Simonds said.

Jefferson said the intention is "to get people to shed politically correct Amherst" and "have the conversation."

Cox, who is also white, said, "You should feel free to say what you think."

He wants to hear how all those interviewed truly experience race and to make the discussion "as human as possible."

Jefferson said she loves the school and while some are concerned about the school's reputation with all the attention on the issue she sees it differently. "I want it to be a better place."

And that can only come they believe, by showcasing the scope of the issue and talking about it "to bring people to understand other people... putting everything out there so we can start dealing with it."

Jefferson said, they "at least want to understand where each other is coming from."

She said some people say racism "doesn't exist. There are kids (experiencing it) every day. How can these two worlds exist?"

Attention on the issue this year has been draining. "I feel it's a pretty toxic environment," Simonds said. And he said people are discouraged because they kept seeing the events over and over again. Earlier in May, a threatening note was found that used Gardner's name as the author.

Jefferson thinks Gardner "is very brave." After the first message was left, she made a video. She said Gardner felt "this is an opportunity. It's not about me. It's about changing the environment."

Yet the incidents continued and Gardner will not be back this year.

Mattison Sudan, meanwhile, tells the filmmakers that there's no Klu Klux Klan in town. Yet the Shutesbury senior said, "I feel like there are hurtful instances of racism. It's quiet."